The LEPAS collaborative project, which has tackled the urgent need to better understand how an ageing population is likely to influence the economy and whether or not those changes will be sustainable, found out that Europe’s population is ageing at an unprecedented rate, faster than any other continent, and is economically unsustainable.

The LEPAS collaborative project (Long-run Economic Perspectives on an Ageing Society), carried out throughout the last three years by researchers from Spain, Denmark, Germany and Austria, and funded by the European Union, published the outcome of a research that highlights that Europe’s population is ageing at an unprecedented rate, faster than any other continent, and is economically unsustainable. In January 2012, the European Commission published a survey results which showed that the 71% of Europeans are aware that Europe's population is getting older. However, only the 42% are concerned about this development.

The research also shows that both child and adult mortality are lower in richer countries; also higher income affects a person’s decision to invest income in their health and diet, thus slowing down ageing and prolonging health. An increase in personal income of 100% increases life expectancy by 8%. In addition, the study shows that improving healthcare efficiency has a greater impact than increasing per capita income. In theory, increasing healthcare efficiency by 100% could increase life expectancy by around 50%, although other factors are likely to preclude humans living this long.

On the other hand, predictions show that nearly 25% of the EU population will be over 65 by 2030 (an increase from 17% in 2005), and the number of people aged 65+ compared to working-age people (aged 15-64) is expected to double by 2050. Moreover, better-educated people generally live longer as they have more human capital to protect, which drives healthy behaviour, according to the study. Every extra year of education increases life expectancy by approximately six months. Therefore, the analysis suggests that improving education opportunities at young ages is the most promising policy approach to promoting health equality among adults within the EU. Also, higher income affects longevity but not the age of retirement, therefore higher income is associated with a greater number of years spent in retirement; and as human frailty and disability increases with age, the demand for healthcare services will increase per person over their lifetime.